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Topic: New guy (Read 2172 times)

I`v got back into mtb this year after over a decade away, yeah I`m 36, and have dragged a few mates into it as well. We`re based in Haverfordwest, but always on the lookout for new trails to ride, so far we`ve been visiting bpw where we`ve enjoyed the blue trails, Afan a fair bit, on Y Wal, Penhydd, Blue Scar and playing in the skills park, Whites level and Blade are on the hit list too. Been to Brechfa a few times, did the Gorlech trail yesterday, nice and wet, with a few trees down, but nothing to spoil the fun.

Found some clips on youtube of the trails at Clyne, so really keen to get along and ride them, from the videos and a bit of googling it seems like there is a plenty of stuff to explore there.

Although I`m no young un, I`m really keen to progress my jumping, (basically I can`t) before the fear grips me too much and the recovery time from falling off gets any longer, so places where we can session a few kickers, or play for a few hours in the bomb holes sounds brilliant.

Anyway this is me saying hi, hopefully I`ll get to ride some of your local trails, maybe tag onto some rides and get involved in a forum that's a bit more localish to where I am.

Steve, theres not much about round here, when I was a kid, I used to piece together bits of bridle path and stuff, but there was nothing all that great. There is a trail from Rosebush, across the Preseli`s towards Mynachlogddu on a mix of bridle and footpath, and Llys y Fran dam has a 7 ish mile trail around it. Do mean to get an os map of Pembrokeshire and see if I can uncover more local stuff to ride.

A local play spot with some dirt jumps for general mucking about would be great.

Looks like I`ll have to get me some lights, but may try some weekend or daytime stuff before I venture out with you boys in the dark

Whitland huh! Used to ride a mix of footpath and bridleway from Llanddewi Velfrey sort of down the back of the hill, into the valley towards Lampeter Velfrey, then across to join the road close the turning for the crem, then under the railway and up across the Cold Blow road to the top, then across the main road and down into Canaston woods......

So last post I was headed to BMCC next day, never been before and its great. Was enjoying it, building up the speed and confidence, had about three runs in and started tweaking my fork settings, that was helping too.

5th run didn't quite go to plan.....

Fully messed up the small jump, after the corner, that follows the bridge then the two tables and the lip/drop, went face first into the berm, closely followed by my lower body and the bike which all folded up behind me scorpion style and drove my head into the ground!

The boys I was there with were all on dh rigs and were gone, so by the time I`d got my helmet off, and regained my breath enough to scrape myself off the ground and started to gingerly head on down the trail, they were heading back up to see what had happened.

Pilau, it wasn't raining that day, but had been so things were a bit damp, but not wet, grip was good and it was fine, the boys went again last Sat and said it was very wet, still good grip apparently. I think they closed it Sunday to improve the drainage and modify it to handle the wet better.

Steve, yeah, I'm 3 for 3 at the moment. Don't feel like my confidence has taken a knock, just my body, so hope to carry on building where I left off, next time out.

Its Black Mountain Cycle Centre, about 5 miles past Abergavenny. Uplift on a tractor and trailer £25 and they say you should get 10-12 runs.

hey Bryn. Glad you've survived! I was thinking of heading up the Black Mountains place a while ago but wasn't sure if the jumps would still be do-able in the wet. Do you reckon that they run ok in the wet?

Logged

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race - H G Wells (possibly)

The same boys were there on sat and said with the wet they could do the same as in that vid, but weren't able to push on to the next level, they made it over the gap, onto the big jump line, but didn't do the last gap. It did sound very wet though, and they said the guys had been sweeping the loose mud off the trail which had helped a lot. Don't know if they've finished the planned wet weather improvements, but it might be worth giving The owner Joe a ring if you fancy a trip up there.

Pilau, I thought that too, but it was totally fine when I was there, and the boys said grip was good for them in the wet, but I think they were splattered and soaked.

When I walked it, it seemed massive to me, but after I rolled it the first time, I found the kickers aren't too aggressive, and didnt give me that feeling they were pushing me vertical in a scary way, so I just regulated my speed to what I was happy with and was landing to flat on the tables which felt fine, then I built up from there. I'm looking forward to the next time I go, I want to start clearing some of the tables and do some of the gaps too.